TWENTYMAN: Lions host LB Kyle Van Noy

If the Detroit Lions draft linebacker Kyle Van Noy, he'll already have a familiar face in former college teammate Ziggy Ansah.

Ziggy Ansah had nothing but good things to say about former BYU teammate Kyle Van Noy when asked about him earlier this offseason.

DE Ziggy Ansah (Photo: Gavin Smith)

In fact, Ansah said Van Noy was the best player on the BYU defense in 2012, a defense that at the time featured the Lions eventual No. 5 overall pick.

“He better say that since I taught him how to play,” Van Noy said with a laugh Thursday on a pre-draft visit to Allen Park.

“Being able to play with (Ansah) for three years at BYU and having him be my roommate for a while, it’s pretty cool to see him where he’s at and for him to say something like that is just who he is. He’ll never take credit for how good he is and how good he can be.”

Van Noy, like cornerback Justin Gilbert, who was also in for a visit today, was able to catch some of the Lions' final mimicamp practice, though he didn’t have the pleasure of watching his former teammate, Ansah, who is recovering from shoulder surgery.

“I love that,” Van Noy said. “I love the grind. I love that competitiveness and all that good stuff. Being able to watch that got me antsy and excited for the future to see how the culture is developing here already, as far as how excited guys are, even though the season is still far away.”

Van Noy, who had 63 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and seven pass deflections as a senior last season, was also on a pre-draft visit in Allen Park Thursday.

Much like linebacker DeAndre Levy for the Lions last season, Van Noy seems to have an uncanny ability to know what to do with the football when he does get his hands on it. He scored five career defensive touchdowns at BYU.

“I think some people have a knack for just being around the football,” Van Noy said. “I put myself (in that category). The preparation that goes into putting yourself in those situations helps out. Coaches calling that call at the right time. It’s a little bit of everything that goes into it, but at the end of the day it’s all about the ball and that’s what I’m about. The game is about the ball.”

The 6-foot-3, 241-pounder ran the 40-yard dash in 4.71 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine and says he fits best as a Sam or Will linebacker in the Lions’ 4-3 scheme, with the ability to become a rusher on passing situations.

Van Noy joked that if the Lions select him in next months draft it'll be Ziggy who becomes the teacher and Van Noy the student.

"He came home for a bye week and was telling me about pro football," Van Noy said. "He said it should be the other way around and I should be telling him how it's going. It's funny how things work out."